Punto editor Bong Lacson beside a blow-up of his latest work.
ANGELES CITY — “This book about the public life of Cong Tarzan may help influence, motivate and provide encouragement to everyone especially, aspiring leaders, but I especially put his upstanding traits ahead of his accomplishments… in the hope that aspiring leaders will be influenced to place as much premium on constancy and loyalty as in accomplishments, of which he also had a lot, as one can read about in this book.”
Thus, enthused former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as guest of honor, at the launch of Cong Tarzan Lazatin: A Public Life on Sunday at the Best Western Hotel here.
While centered on the political life of on the multi-term congressman and first three- term city mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, the book also touches on that of his father, Don Rafael Lazatin who served as Pampanga governor, city mayor, and member of the Batasang Pambansa, as well on that of Tarzan sons and namesakes Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, now two-term congressman of the 1st District, and Carmelo “Pogi” Jr., reelecting city mayor.
“As a journalist I have been blessed with the privilege of covering all three generations of Lazatin public servants, starting off with the patriarch Don Rafael at the time he was city mayor…Cong Tarzan, from his first foray in 1980, through his congressional triumphs…to his record setting three-terms as city mayor…to his return to the House…his failed comeback bid for the city mayorship, on to his last hurrah as chairman of Barangay Balibago in 2018, and now with Mayor Pogi and Cong Jon” said Punto editor Caesar “Bong” Lacson in his message during the book launching. Lacson conceptualized the book and served as its head writer and editor.
“That rare privilege given me of having covered the three generations of this illustrious family of public servants, has become a distinct honor in being the author of Cong Tarzan Lazatin: A Public Life,” he added.
Mayor Lazatin, along with Clark International Airport Corp. VP for operations Irish Calaguas, a longtime Tarzan associate, stand as the book publisher.
The pool of writers is composed of Tonette Orejas of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Arnel San Pedro of iOrbit News, Marna Dagumboy-Del Rosario of the Philippine News Agency and Pampanga News Now, and Minerva Zamora-Arceo of Central Luzon Businessweek.
The contributors included Joey Pavia of Businessweek, Arlyn Ente-Lukban of The Voice, and Noel Tulabut of Sun Star Pampanga.
Frederick Gonzales of Businessweek served as photo editor while John Paul Manalang did the book design and layout. The book project manager was Lincoln Baluyut of The Voice.
Cong Tarzan Lazatin: A Public Life is the ninth book authored by Lacson.
His other works are: Of the Press (1999), the history of the Pampanga Press Club founded in 1949; Brigada .45 (2004), a “journalistic novel” on the insurgency in Angeles City and Pampanga in the last three years of the 1980s; OCA: A story of Struggle (2005) and its Tagalog edition OCA: Isang Storya ng Pakikibaka (2006), a proto-bio of Oscar Rodriguez who served as 3rd District representative and mayor of the City of San Fernando; Pinatubo: Triumph of the Kapampangan Spirit (2008), on the devastation of the volcanic eruptions, its aftermath, and the ultimate rise of the province from the ashes; Reverend Governor (2010), “a chronicle of irreverence” on the governorship of Among Ed Panlilio; Agyu Tamu: Turning Tragedy into Triumph (2011) on the Pinatubo experience of Angeles City; and Our Dennis Uy: Angeles City’s Own Mogul (2020), a short bio of the IT entrepreneur who started from video rentals and rose to found and flourish the now telco titan Converge-ICT.
